Student internships in France: visa rules & agreement

The convention de stage: the essential legal foundation

In France, any internship carried out as part of a higher education programme must be governed by a tripartite convention de stage. This document — signed by the student, the educational institution, and the host organisation — is the legal foundation of the internship. Without it, you have no legal protection whatsoever.

The legislative framework is the Act of 10 July 2014 (Cherpion Act), supplemented by the Higher Education and Research Act of 22 July 2013. These texts define the rights and obligations of each party, stipend conditions, and penalties for non-compliance.

Eligibility conditions for a supervised internship

To benefit from a convention de stage, you must:

1. Be enrolled in a French higher education institution (university, grande école, BTS, IUT, etc.)
2. Have the internship included in your curriculum: listed in the programme syllabus, with ECTS credits or graduation requirement attached
3. Have a pedagogical objective: the convention must state your learning goals

Students on a gap year (césure) may benefit from conventions in some institutions that have formalised a gap year framework. Check with your internship office.

Special rules for non-EU international students

For students holding a residence permit with the 'étudiant' designation, a supervised internship is generally authorised with no additional steps. The 'authorised to work' notation on the permit covers supervised internships under a convention.

Important: If your internship extends beyond your permit's validity date, you must initiate the renewal process before the permit expires. Start the ANEF application 2 to 3 months in advance.

Nationals of certain countries may be subject to specific rules under bilateral agreements. When in doubt, consult the prefecture or your institution's international relations office.

Internship duration: what the law provides

Duration is measured in actual working days. Approved leave and authorised absences are not included.

An internship exceeding 6 months at the same organisation without a derogation is illegal. The company faces the risk of the arrangement being reclassified as an employment contract, with full retroactive social contributions and termination rights.

The internship stipend: amount, calculation, exemptions

When is payment compulsory?

The stipend becomes compulsory as soon as the internship exceeds 2 consecutive months (44 working days full-time) at the same organisation, or from day one if the planned duration is already above 2 months.

Calculating the 2026 minimum stipend

The formula is set by decree:

Minimum stipend = 15% × Social Security hourly ceiling

In 2026: 15% × €29/hour = €4.35/hour gross

For a full-time internship (35 hours/week, 4.33 weeks/month):

• Per week: 4.35 × 35 = €152.25
• Per month: 4.35 × 151.67h = approximately €660/month

The stipend is exempt from employee and employer social contributions up to the legal minimum. Any amount paid above the minimum is subject to normal social contribution rules.

What the stipend is not

The internship stipend is not a salary under the Labour Code. It does not generate unemployment insurance rights and is not subject to income tax up to an annual limit of €21,228 (2026 value).

Employer (host organisation) obligations

Often-overlooked entitlements

Many students do not know that they are entitled to 50% reimbursement of their transport pass (Navigo, Tisséo, etc.) from the very first day, even for internships shorter than 2 months. This obligation has applied since the 2014 Act.

Similarly, if the company provides a canteen or meal vouchers to its employees, the intern is entitled to access them on the same terms.

Social coverage during an internship

Liability insurance

Two mandatory coverages apply:

1. The educational institution must insure the student for civil liability arising from acts carried out during the internship
2. The host organisation must cover the intern under its workplace accident and occupational disease scheme (AT/MP via Social Security)

Verify both coverages are specified in the convention before signing.

Health coverage (Ameli)

During an internship in France, your Ameli coverage continues as normal. For an internship abroad within a French curriculum, coverage is maintained for up to 3 months. Beyond that, you must take out supplementary international insurance — the CROUS offers suitable packages.

Practical timeline

6 to 8 weeks before the internship:

• Identify the host organisation and secure a verbal agreement
• Contact your institution's internship office for the official convention template

4 weeks before:

• Have the company fill in its section (contact details, supervisor, activities)
• Submit to your institution for signature by the director or academic coordinator

2 weeks before:

• Confirm all three signatures are in place
• Retain at least 3 original signed copies (one per party)

First day:

• Hand your signed copy to your company supervisor
• Verify your CPAM affiliation for the duration of the internship

End of internship:

• Request your internship certificate (required for academic validation)
• Verify the full stipend has been paid

Official sources

• Service-Public.fr — Convention de stage: https://www.service-public.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F15921
• Legifrance — Act of 10 July 2014: https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/jorf/id/JORFTEXT000029291996
• Ministry of Labour — Internship stipend: https://travail-emploi.gouv.fr/formation-professionnelle/formation-en-alternance-10751/article/les-stages-etudiants
• Education.gouv.fr — Convention template: https://www.education.gouv.fr/les-stages-en-entreprise-11443